CAMPAIGNERS CALL FOR AREA TO BE GIVEN PROTECTION

SOUTH Drive Residents' Association will be out in force tomorrow night (Thursday) urging the district council's executive to back plans to grant protected status to an area just off Wokingham town centre.

SOUTH Drive Residents' Association will be out in force tomorrow night (Thursday) urging the district council's executive to back plans to grant protected status to an area just off Wokingham town centre.

At its last meeting, Wokingham District Council's decision-making executive put on hold proposals to give conservation status to the area which encompasses Murdoch Road, Sturges Road, South Drive and Crescent Road.

Members felt that further consultation was needed after some homeowners voiced concerns about possible restrictions which could be put on them.

It was feared that tighter planning regulations could prevent some house maintenance and alterations, and could potentially devalue their homes.

But a survey by the residents' association and the South Wokingham Residents' Action Group — which canvassed the opinion of 74 out of 84 homes in Murdoch Road, Purslane, South Drive and Crescent Road — found 86 per cent of people supported the move.

Fred Cass, secretary of the South Drive Residents' Association, said: "It was disappointing when the council decided to delay the decision again at their meeting last month, but our research has shown that an overwhelming majority of people both inside and outside the catchment area are in support of this.

"We've been campaigning for almost a year and worked hard for this area to be granted conservation area consent.

"Some homeowners have raised objections about restrictions on future alterations to their homes, but while I appreciate their concerns it will not be impossible.

"We are a very close community and this is a decision we have been waiting a long time for."

To further strengthen their case the association has also submitted a 150-signature petition to the district council.

The Wokingham Society, together with the Greater Langborough Residents' Association, privately commissioned independent studies last August recommending that the area be designated a conservation area, after residents petitioned to the district council.

The neighbourhood contains homes built by Joseph Morris, an architect and county surveyor of bridges and buildings for Berkshire, his son Frank and daughter Violet, who all contributed to the character of Wokingham's expansion at the turn of the 20th Century.

Mr Morris was also responsible for designing Wokingham's old police station in Rectory Road around the same period. The police moved to a new building in Denmark Street last year.

Conservation areas are designated by local planning authorities as areas of special architectural or historic interest where the character or appearance of the buildings within in should be preserved or enhanced.